Communications and News

Our Kindred Journey continues…

There is simply no more fitting name to describe the core mission of this humble, faith-based organization, tirelessly dedicated to assisting the poorest of the poor in the nearby country of Haiti.  By living amongst the peasants of the Central Plateau in the region surrounding the village of Pandiassou, over the past several decades the Little Brothers and Little Sisters of the Incarnation have made great strides in improving the lives of thousands of Haitian citizens — all this while working diligently to educate them and to instill sound Christian values.  In the words of their leader, Brother Francklin Armand, their primary objective is “to become one with the peasants” so that they can facilitate their physical and spiritual passage to a better standard of living. 

Reducing the kind of endemic poverty that has ravaged this region for hundreds of years is no simple task.  But the Little Brothers and Sisters have a clear-cut, four-pronged strategy, focused in four key areas:

·         Basic infrastructure development

·         General education of children and adults

·         Creation of economic opportunities

·         Spiritual formation and growth

Kindred Journey Fund Inc. is a U.S.-based registered 501(c)3st exclusively in the area of infrastructure development, geared to the establishment of reliable sources of water and nutrition for the local people.  Please refer to our Projects page for more details on how donations have been and are being successfully used.

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07/2/24

Haïti-Cinéma : “Fr Francklin Armand, une vie donnée” un film documentaire attendu pour le 27 juillet à Le Villate, à Pétion-Ville
After more than two centuries of trial and error and socio-political unrest, Haitians continue to fight to survive. According to the Superior General of the Congregation of the Little Brothers and Little Sisters of the Incarnation (PFI-PSI), misery is not inevitable. No, misery was not wanted by God for his Haitian children. With his faith in Christ and his commitment to the Church from the age of 17, Brother Franklin Armand refused assistantship and wishes to help his country’s farmers reclaim their work tools and encourage young people to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. He himself dug more than two hundred hilly lakes to allow irrigation during the dry season. Many reports and documentary films have been made in Haiti and abroad, especially in Europe, such as “L’Homme debout” (1996), “Le Paysan de Dieu” (2010), “Un plan Marshall pour Haïti” (2010), and “Captaine de l’Espérance” (2011), highlighting Brother Armand’s complex work in favor of his community.

This new documentary film traces its achievements in Haiti. He is neither president, senator nor deputy, but as Pradel Henriquez, former Minister of Culture and Communication and former Executive Director of the Congregation of the PFI-PSI, points out, Brother Franklin Armand, nicknamed “peasant of God”, has devoted all his energy to the good of his country. A model, an icon like him must be honored, says Mr. Henriquez. The screening of this exceptional film, directed by Laurent Ralphden Production and Télé Soleil, will take place on July 27 in Le Villate, Pétion-Ville. Tickets are available at the price of 1000 gourds.

This extraordinary character, now 76 years old, was taken care of from the age of three months by his godfather Anglade Féquière, former army captain, who loved and supported him very much. Very young, his family and loved ones were sure that he had been called by God. At the age of 17, he entered as an applicant to the Little Brothers of Saint Thérèse of the Jesus Fild. At the age of 28, he became Superior General of this community. His eleven years in religious life provoked in him “a call in another call” (to paraphrase Mother Teresa of Calcutta). Brother Armand was deeply inspired by Charles de Foucauld (Brother Charles de Jésus) through a retreat and his spiritual writings.

Brother Charles, a former officer of the French Army, became a Trappist, priest, hermit and nomadic in the Sahara desert. Brother Charles’ writings resonated deeply in Franklin, reinforcing convictions that he had felt for years. With the agreement of the Bishop of his diocese, he founded a religious community totally dedicated to the service of the poorest in Haiti. On December 26, 1976, he and the first group of the Little Brothers of the Incarnation (PFI) opened their hearts and doors to the people of the rural world in Dos Palais, in the Central Plateau of Haiti. Nine years later, with Sister Emmanuelle Victor, he founded the female branch of the Fraternity of the Incarnation: the Little Sisters of the Incarnation (PSI).

Brother Franklin Armand’s work is immense and includes 17 fraternities extending over 8 dioceses: the Central Plateau, the North-East, the Southeast, the Grand-Anse, the South, the West, the Artibonite and the Dominican Republic. The congregation manages 8 primary schools, 2 high schools, nearly 180 hilly lakes throughout Haitian territory, several nutrition centers feeding more than 6,000 young people every day, a radio station, a cyber café, a community store, a charcuterie, a fishmonger, a cafeteria, a craft shop, a hospital center, a beach on the Arcadins coast, a technical center in Pandiassou, Hinche, a school of agricultural entrepreneurs welcoming 240 young people a year, a printing house, an agricultural shop, a bakery, the technical school of the Incarnation Foyer in Petite Place Cazeau, Port-au-Prince.

Several important books have been published, especially abroad, including “Paysan de Dieu, la longue route du peuple haitien” (Bayard Editions, 1997), “Danser avec la vie, l’œuvre de frère Franklin Armand, Fraternité de l’Incarnation en Haiti, de 1976 à nos jours” (Editions Nestor, 2010). Many reports and documentary films have also been made: “L’Homme debout” (1996), “Le Paysan de Dieu” (2010), “Un plan Marshall pour Haïti” (2010), “Captaine de l’Espérance” (2011), highlighting Brother Armand’s complex work for his community. In recognition of his work, Brother Armand was decorated by the Presidency of the French Republic at the rank of Knight of National Order and Merit (1998), National and Living Treasury (Haiti, 2008), Honor and Merit (Mairie de Hinche, 2010), Human Rights Award (Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast, 2012), and many other distinctions.

02/28/2024

Lenten Message:

Dear Friends at Kindred Journey, 

I’m sorry for the delay in verifying and acknowledging the receipt of $100,000 USD transferred by Mike about 2 weeks ago from Kindred Journey to the Incarnation account in Petionville, Haiti. 

Now that Br. Francklin is living in the Central Plateau region again, telephone connections are less reliable.  He called me 4 or 5 days after Mike Nott notified me that he had just sent a wire transfer to Haiti.  I was able to communicate that to Francklin when he called.  He was oh so very grateful to behold Divine Providence at work.  The following week,  he called again to tell me that he was able to verify receipt of the wire transfer by the bank in Haiti. 

The PFI/PSI had just received a large group of families who had been forced to flee their homes and what little possessions they had when their area was overwhelmed by violent gang activity.  Families were thrown out into the streets and obliged to run for their lives.  In addition to the adults, there were over 50 school aged children who needed to be welcomed into their appropriate grade levels and outfitted for school and meals… all arriving unannounced and unexpected on the fraternity’s doorstep.  This is in addition to the already constant financial strain of rampant inflation and violence which impedes any normalization of life in Haiti.

The Little Brothers and Sisters are stretched beyond their limits, yet continue to reach out and help all who come needing assistance.  So many young and educated Haitians are fleeing the country in search of safety and a life elsewhere.   It is an impossible situation.  

The funds which you sent were desperately needed.  I convey to you the deep gratitude of the Incarnation communities and the love and prayers of your brothers and sisters in Haiti.  They are so very grateful that the work begun by Monseigneur carries on in the faithful efforts of Kindred Journey. 

May God bless each of you and all who contribute, to the work in Haiti, through you.

Have a blessed Lent,

Blythe/Fifi on behalf of Br. Francklin and the PFI/PSI

12/03/2023

To the spiritual family (of St. Charles de Foucauld) and friends, Haiti
 
Little Brothers and Little Sisters of the Incarnation,
On behalf of Brother Francklin and Little Sister Emmanuelle,
We come to thank you for this chain of prayer and communion that you form for us in these
difficult days that we are going through in Haiti, but even more so on this day of December 1 during which we hope you all had a great feast of St. Charles.

We want to share with you two events that have just happened for us this week. Last Tuesday we were hit by a first test. Indeed, as we are used to doing as a precaution, our two drivers go together to the bank – but this time, they were followed and attacked on the way back. Guns were pointed at them, but they did not resist the bandits’ demand, and they are alive—thanks to the Good Lord who is ever present. Although they (the drivers) remain very scarred, little by little they will find peace.

The second ordeal took place in Saintard on the night of December 1st to 2 nd , between 12:30am and 2:30am at night. Armed bandits arrived and broke down doors, gaining access to the rooms of the three women employed at the fraternity. Looking, of course for Francklin and the two Little Sisters, Carmène and Rénise, the guys busied themselves by asking if they had weapons, asking a thousand and one questions while making the women walk about in the yard. According to the Little Sisters who were listening to the women, they responded with great prudence and wisdom. The two Little Sisters were not seen or touched by the bandits, but followed the proceedings in fear of the worst, and that they might of course be discovered… (their rooms are on the upper floor of the building at the back).

For three days, the Christian community of Saintard had prepared for the feast of St. Charles and on December 1 a large crowd gathered for the prayer of adoration at the shrine of St. Charles. The Little Sisters testify to the graces received, to the power of prayer, to the presence of the Lord and of Saint Charles for the Community, for them and the three women, because the bandits did not seek to harm them further nor to fire weapons at them. One of them (bandits) even said to one of them (women), “Don’t be afraid, we won’t do anything to you.” Which is not so easy to believe, since it is well known that so many other people suffer or have suffered such horrors!

Last night (12/2/23), the Little Sisters, together with the employees left Saintard and were able to
return to the Fraternity in Port-au-Prince. Will these men (bandits) come back again to the
Fraternity…we fear it.

We invite you to continue your prayers united with ours and for all those, near and far from us, who are undergoing trials of all kinds. Haiti mourns its many innocent dead, and no one knows the future because these days the roads in the North and South are closed by gangs.
To each and every one of you our fraternal friendship and our thanks.

Little Sister Armelle

04/08/23

Easter message:

Dear Friends of the fraternities in Haiti,

I take this opportunity to pass on to you the Easter greetings and prayers from Br. Francklin and the Little Brothers and Sisters of the Incarnation in Haiti.

Life is difficult, but life continues…please continue to keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers.
United in prayer, with faith in the Risen Lord,
Blythe

In the locality of Saintard, in the commune of Arcahaie, the shortage of basic necessities and widely sought after products such as fuel is felt like many other localities in the capital of Haiti and its surrounding areas in the face of the phenomenon of gang domination that the country is currently experiencing. The black market is becoming the norm because of the risks that traders run to get products here. Thus, the prices of products already rarely available are shockingly high. Faced with this situation, Brother Francklin Armand, founder of the religious communities of the Little Brothers and Sisters of the Incarnation (PFI/PSI) of the Roman Catholic Church, and Captain Florand Cadet of the Salvation Army decided to unite to help the population. They bring fuel from Petit-Goâve and flour from Carrefour by sea using boats from the PFI/PSI community. Thus, not only will these two products be available on the local market of Saintard, they will be at a more affordable price than that of the black market. Their efforts are aimed at providing relief from the shortage. This initiative they have taken together shows that people of different religions can work together to help their communities. They also proved that compassion and solidarity are universal values that can transcend religious and cultural differences. They hope their work will inspire others to unite for good, creating a groundswell of support and solidarity across the region. Because, even in the most difficult moments, it is possible to find solutions when we work together. Their example of cooperation can serve as a model for communities around the world.

05/27/22

Chapel in Saintard,  Haiti dedicated to St. Charles de Foucauld

Dear friends at Kindred Journey, 

Francklin asked me to send pictures to you all, and unfortunately, they are not in any particular order.   Since the fraternities in Haiti were unable to travel to Italy for the canonization of Br. Charles de Foucauld on May 15, 2022–they wanted to mark the celebration in a more lasting way.

They were able to sell a parcel of land which they bought decades ago for pennies on the dollar and to use those funds to build a chapel at the retreat center in Saintard.   They inaugurated it one week after the canonization in the name of St. Charles de Foucauld.  Below, you will see some of the photos.   I will also try to send you some YouTube links of the ceremony and radio interviews that were done on site with regard to the new chapel…not sure how successful I will be with that, since those will have to be in a different email.   Unfortunately, the videos are 100% in Creole.

The Chapel is part of the whole campus in Saintard where there is the nutritional and economic complex dedicated to the memory of Msgr. Gaus.   Saintard has become the focus for much of the activity of the Incarnation fraternities these last 10 years, and the work begun in the Plateau Centrale amidst the paysanery has evolved and adapted to poor fishing villagers living in squalor on the coast of Haiti. 

Looking forward to a glorious Ascension and spirit-filled Pentecost, 

Blythe